Nandina plant named ‘Selten004’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Nandina domestica  named ‘Selten004’, characterized by its bushy upright growing habit, its leaves that are light yellow-green in color, its palm-like leaves that are large in size, and its hardiness at least to U.S.D.A. Zone 7.

Botanical classification: Nandina domestica.

Variety denomination: ‘Selten004’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION

This application is related to a European plant breeders' rights application filed on May, 15, 2014, application No. 2014/1341. There have been no offers for sale anywhere in the world more than one year prior to the filing of this Application and no accessibility to one of ordinary skill in the art could have been derived from the printed plant breeder's rights documents.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Nandina domestica and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, ‘Selten004’. ‘Selten004’ is a new cultivar of Nandina shrub grown for use as a landscape plant.

The new cultivar was discovered as a branch mutation by the Inventor in 2001 in Horst, The Netherlands. The new cultivar arose as a naturally occurring branch mutation found on a plant derived from Nandina domestica ‘Richmond’.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first accomplished by the inventor using softwood stem cuttings in 2011 in Horst, The Netherlands. Asexual propagation by hardwood and softwood cuttings has determined that the characteristics of the new cultivar are stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the characteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combination distinguish ‘Selten004’ as a unique cultivar of Nandina.

-   -   1. ‘Selten004’ exhibits a bushy upright growing habit.     -   2. ‘Selten004’ exhibits leaves that are light yellow-green in         color.     -   3. ‘Selten004’ exhibits palm-like leaves that are large in size.     -   4. ‘Selten004’ exhibits hardiness at least to U.S.D.A. Zone 7.

‘Richmond’, the parent plant of ‘Selten004’ is similar to ‘Selten004’ in having flowers that are white in color, however ‘Richmond’ differs from ‘Selten004’ in having foliage that is darker green in color. ‘Selten004’ can be most closely compared to the cultivars ‘Gulfstream’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,656) and ‘Compacta’ (not patented). ‘Gulfstream’ differs from ‘Selten004’ in having a dwarf plant habit, in having a round plant shape and in having dense foliage. ‘Compacta’ differs from ‘Selten004’ in having foliage that is darker green in color, in having a larger plant height and width and in having a clumping plant habit as it matures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of three year-old plants of the new Nandina as grown outdoors in 3-gallon containers in Horst, The Netherlands.

The photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates the overall appearance of ‘Selten004’.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of a flower of ‘Selten004’.

The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a view of the inflorescence of ‘Selten004’.

The photograph in FIG. 4 provides a close up view of a leaf of ‘Selten004’.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with the digital photography techniques utilized and the color values cited in the detailed botanical description accurately describe the colors of the new Nandina.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of a 2 year-old plant of the new cultivar as grown outdoors in a 22-cm container in June Horst, The Netherlands. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with The 2007 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:     -   -   Plant type.—Evergreen shrub.         -   Plant habit.—Upright and bushy.         -   Height and spread.—Average of 79.7 cm in height and 77.3 cm             in width.         -   Hardiness.—At least in U.S.D.A. Zone 7.         -   Diseases and pests.—No susceptibility or resistance to             diseases or pests has been observed.         -   Root description.—Fibrous and fleshy, a blend of 158B and             167C in color.         -   Root habit.—Outward spreading by underground rhizomes has             not been observed.         -   Propagation.—Softwood stem cuttings.         -   Growth rate.—Moderate. -   Stem description:     -   -   Stem strength.—Very strong.         -   Stem color.—Younger stems; 143C to 143D, mature stems and             older bark; 199B.         -   Stem size.—Main stem; 47 cm in length and 7 mm in diameter,             lateral branches; 7.7 cm in length and 4 mm in diameter.         -   Stem surface.—Moderately axially ribbed and dull.         -   Stem aspect.—Near vertical.         -   Internode length.—Average of 2.8 cm.         -   Branching.—1 main stem and an average of 2 lateral branches. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Leaf shape.—Deltoid overall.         -   Leaf division.—Compound, tri-pinnate.         -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Leaf number.—On main stems an average of 8, on lateral stems             an average of 2.         -   Leaf size.—Average of 50.7 cm in length and 60.9 cm in             width.         -   Leaf surface.—Both sides glabrous, upper side slightly             glossy, lower side matte.         -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Leaflet base.—Narrow acuminate.         -   Leaflet apex.—Narrowly acute.         -   Leaflet shape.—Ovate.         -   Leaflet venation.—Pinnate, upper surface color; 146A, lower             surface color; 144B.         -   Leaflet margins.—Entire.         -   Leaflet surface.—Both sides glabrous, upper side slightly             glossy, lower side matte.         -   Leaflet size.—Average of 5.9 cm in length and 1.9 cm in             width.         -   Leaflet number.—Average of 5.9 cm in length and 1.9 cm in             width.         -   Leaf/leaflet color.—Young leaves upper surface; 144A, young             leaves lower surface; between 145A and 146D, mature leaves             upper surface; between 144A and 146A, mature and fall leaves             lower surface; 146D.         -   Petioles.—Main petiole; Average of 43.6 cm in length and 2             mm in diameter, 143B in color, surface is glabrous,             secondary petiole; average of 10.7 cm in length and 1 mm in             diameter, 143B in color, surface is glabrous. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Inflorescence type.—Panicle.         -   Inflorescence size.—Average of 30.2 cm in height and 10.1 cm             in width.         -   Inflorescence quantity.—Average of 5 per plant in a 22-cm             container.         -   Flower quantity.—Average of 135 flowers per inflorescence,             100 per lateral stem.         -   Blooming habit.—Once a year, continuously.         -   Blooming season.—Late spring into early summer.         -   Blooming response time and rate.—Average of 9 months, all             flowers in an inflorescence have opened within four weeks.         -   Fragrance.—None.         -   Flower buds.—Average of 8 mm in length and 4 mm in diameter,             ovate in shape, aspect is upright to slightly outward and             155C in color.         -   Flowers.—Shape is rotate, single, average of 1.3 cm in             diameter and depth, longevity on plant is an average of 3             days, self cleaning.         -   Petals.—An average of 5, rotate in arrangement, appearance             is slightly concave, surface texture on in and outer             surfaces are glabrous and have a very slightly velvety             texture, un-fused, ovate in shape, entire margins, acute             apex, 8 mm in length and 3.5 mm in width, color when inner             and outer surfaces are opening; 155C, not fading, color when             inner and outer surfaces are fully open; NN155D, not fading.         -   Sepals.—Average of 15, concave appearance, spirally placed             below petals which are dropped when flower opens, broad             ovate in shape, entire margins, broad acute apex, broad             cuneate base, 3.5 mm in length and 2 mm in width, inner and             outer surfaces are glabrous and have a very slightly velvety             texture, immature inner and outer surfaces color; 155C,             mature inner and outer surfaces color; NN155C.         -   Calyx.—Rotate in shape, no mature calyx are present due to             sepals being dropped when flower opens.         -   Peduncle.—Average of 29.5 cm in length and 2 mm in diameter,             surface is glabrous, held at an average angle of 30° to             stem, secondary peduncles held in an average angle of 40° to             main peduncle, very strong and 143C in color.         -   Pedicel.—Average of 2 mm in length, 0.75 mm in diameter,             surface is glabrous, pedicels held in an average angle of             45° to peduncle, very strong and 143C in color. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Gynoecium.—1 pistil, average of 1.2 mm in length, stigmas;             club-shaped, fringed an average of <0.5 mm in length and             150C in color, style; 0.5 mm in length and 150C in color,             ovary; round in shape, 0.5 mm in length, 150D in color.         -   Androecium.—Stamens; average of 6, anthers; linear in shape,             5 mm in length and 13B in color; filaments; 0.75 mm in             length and 11C in color, pollen; very low in quantity and             12B in color.         -   Fruit/seeds.—No fruit or seed production was observed to             date. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Nandina plant named ‘Selten004’ as herein illustrated and described. 